Magazine accumulator control



OC. 4, 1966 Q A KANE ET AL 3,276,318

MAGAZINE ACCUMULATOR CONTROL C. 4, g@ G, A. KANE ET AL MAGAZINE ACCUMULATOR CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 5, 1955 n @EN MQNN NQNN S vmSN 3,276,318 MAGAZINE ACCUMULATR CNTRUL Garold A. Kane, Arthur G. Blomquist, Harrison Randolph, .lohn S. Scheurich, and Palmer G. Wermager,

Minneapolis, Minn., Fred H. Allen and Robert E. Carlberg, Washington, DC., Ferdinand J. Schiavi, Falls Church, Va., and Arthur .1. Dohm, Chisago City, and

Milton C. Neuman, Champlin, Minn., assignors, by

direct and mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy @riginal application May 5, 1955, Ser. No. 506,392, pow

Patent No. 3,228,293, dated lan. 11, 1966. Divided and this application Oct. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 415,556

3 Claims. (Cl. 89-1.8)

This application is a division of the copending application of Garold A. Kane et al., Serial No. 506,392, now Patent No. 3,228,293.

This invention relates to accumulator controls, and more particularly, to a control system for charging an accumulator and for supplying fluid under pressure for operating parts of a missile handling device.

Missile handling equipment frequently have parts which are powered by Huid under pressure. Such equipment require accumulators for supplying lluid under pressure and control systems for regulating both the charging of the accumulators and the output of the iluid under pressure from the accumulators to the hydraulically operated parts of the missile handling device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a missilehandling device comprising a launcher, a hoist for moving a missile to said launcher, and means for positioning said missile on said launcher.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a missilehandling device comprising a Ready Service Ring, means for moving a missile in vertical position from said Ready Service Ring to said hoist, and means for steadying said missile while being so moved. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a missile handling device having an accumulator control system for supplying fluid under pressure to hydraulically operated mechanisms of a missile handling device.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a missile-handling device comprising a launching mechanism, means for moving a missile to said mechanism, means for moving said missile for training, and means for moving said missile in elevation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts l throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a Magazine Accumulator and cooperating parts;

FIG. 2 is a view largely in section showing a portion y of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view largely in vertical section showing another portion of the mechanism of the Magazine Accumulator. The parts illustrated in FIGS. l to 3 are schematically shown.

One or more accumulators are used to furnish the tluid or oil under pressure for operating the various parts of the missile-handling device. The charging of the accumulators to the desired pressure is automatically controlled.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a pair of accumulators 2160 are shown. Each accumulator has an air bladder 2161 therein made of ilexible and preferably resilient material. Conduits 2163 and 2164 lead into the air bladders 2161. Valves 2165 and 2166 carried in a block 2167 control conduits 2163 and 2164. Said valves can be operated by a turning tool applied to the ends thereof which are disposed without block 2167. A valve 2168 is disposed in block 2167 and can be opened in the same manner as valves 2165 and 2166 and it will then connect the chamber 2167cz in block 2167 with the atmosphere. The air bladders 2161 can thus be emptied to the atmosphere when desired. A passage 2167b leads to chamber 2167a through a lter 2170. A plug 2171 is threaded into block 2167 closing passage 2167b and this plug can be removed and a charging nozzle inserted in its place for charging gas, such as nitrogen, into the air bladders 2161. Check valves 2173 are disposed in the bottoms of accumulators 2160 and are spring pressed to open position.

A conduit 2174 is connected to the accumulators and will charge lluid into the same when the pressure is suficient to open check valves 2173. Conduit 2174 has a check valve 2176 disposed therein which will prevent the flow of fluid away from accumulators 2160. An oil filter 2178 is also disposed in conduit 2174. Conduit 2174 extends into a supply tank 2180 in which is disposed a pump 2181 suitably driven through a speed reducer 2182 from a motor 2183. A screen 2185 is shown which extends over the inlet to pump 2181. Fluid, such as oil, under pressure is thus supplied to conduit 2174.

A valve block 2184 is provided having a chamber 2184a therein in which is movable a valve 2186. Valve 2185 is urged toward one end of chamber 2184a by a coiled compression spring 2187 disposed in the other end of chamber 218461. Valve 2186 has spaced lands and a passage 2186a extends from one end of the land opposite spring 2187 to the space between the lands. Valve 2186 at its end opposite spring 2187 engages a projection on the end of a valve 2188 also movable in chamber 2184a. A conduit 218411 extends from the end of chamber 2184a opposite that occupied by spring 2187 and extends through a valve block 2190 and a chamber 2190a therein. Chamber 2190a has an annular portion through which extends a valve 2191 spring pressed to the position shown by a compression coiled spring 2192. Valve 2191 has a rod extending therefrom through spring 2192 and a handle 2191a is secured to said rod at the outer side of block 2190. An opening 219117 extends through valve 2191 and a portion of said rod connecting said valve and handle 2191a. Conduit 218411 connects with conduit 2174.

A conduit 2184c extends from an intermediate point in chamber 218441 to one end of a chamber 2193a in a block 2193. A conduit 2193b extends from the other end of chamber 2193a to conduit 2184/). A check valve 2194 is movable in chamber 2193a and spring pressed to position to close conduit 2193b. Valve 2194 has an opening 2194a therein so that fluid can pass between conduits 21840 and 2193b when said valve is in open position.

A conduit 2184d extends from chamber 2184a to tank 2180. A branch 2184d1 of conduit 2184d extends from the latter to a chamber 219611 in a block 2196. Another branch 2184112 of conduit 2184d1 extends to spaced points in a chamber 21961) in block 2196. Conduit 21S4d also has a branch 2184d3 constituting a passage in block 2184 which extends from conduit 2184d to a portion of chamber 21S-ta. A branch 2184d4 extends from branch 2184d1 to a chamber 2198a in a block 2198. A conduit 218461 extends from chamber 2184a to chamber 2198a, the same having a restricting orifice 2184e therein. A check valve 2199 is movable in chamber 2198a and spring pressed to position to close conduit 2184d4 by a coiled compression spring 2200. Chamber 21981: has an enlarged annular portion 2198s] extending about valve 2199 and a conduit 219811 extends from chamber 2198a1 to conduit 2174. Block 2198 has a chamber 2198!) therein in which is movable a valve 2202. Valve 2202 movable in chamber 2198]: is moved to the position shown by a compression coiled spring 2203 engaging at one of its ends a collar on said valve and engaging the end of an enlarged portion of valve chamber 219811 at its other end. Valve 2202 has spaced lands with a reduced portion therebetween forming an annular chamber about said valve, and one of said lands has a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 220311 therein having ends communicating with said annular chamber and tapering to no depth toward the free end of said land. A cap 2101 is threaded on block 2198 which can be removed to manually operate valve 2202. A passage 21980 extends between chambers 219811 and 219811. A passage 219811 extends between chamber 11198111 and an enlarged portion 219812 of chamber 219811 in which enlarged portion the free end of the end land of valve 2202 is disposed.

A block 2206 is provided having a chamber 220611 therein. A conduit 2206b extends from conduit 2174 to an enlarged portion 2206111 yof -chamber 220611. A conduit 220611 extends from conduit 2174 to an enlarged portion 2206112 at one end of chamber 220611. A check valve 2207 is movable in passage 220611 and moved to position closing communication between chambers 2206111 and 2206112 by a coiled compression spring 2208, said spring engaging one side of an enlarged portion 2208113 of chamber 220811 at `one end and having its other end portion disposed in a tubular chamber in valve 2207. Said tubular chamber has openings 220711 extending therefrom to enlarged portion 2206111. Valve 2207 has an annular slot 220711 in its periphery and the end of a lever 2210 is disposed in said slot. Said lever has an arm 221011 adapted to engage a pin 2211 arranged to operate a switch tor illuminating a lter indicating ligh-t.

A valve 2212 is movable in chamber 219611 and is urged to one end of said chamber by a coiled compression spring 2213 having one end engaging said valve and its other end engaging a collar 221411 carried on a -screw 2214 threaded into the end of block 2196 opposite said end. Block 2196 has therein a chamber 2216b in which is movable a valve 2216 having a plurality of openings extending therethrough and being held in the posi-tion shown by 1a compression coiled spring 2217. Valve 2216 has a rod 221611 thereon extending to without lblock 2196 and adapted to engage the actuating plunger of a pressure switch 2219. Chamber 221611 communicates with chamber 219611. A conduit 21960 extends from con-duit 2174 yto an enlarged portion 2196111 of a chamber 219611. A check valve 2218 is movable in chamber 219611 and is moved to the position closing the lower end of said chamber by a coiled compression spring 2120. A passage 2196e extends from the bottom of -chamber 2196111 to a small chamber 21961 in block 2196. A conduit 2196g extends from chamber 2196f and to the transfer mechanism drive. A conduit 219611 extends from conduit 2196g to the hoist pawl positioning piston `and a conduit 21961' extends from conduit 2196g to the Ready Service Ring Positioners. A manually operable valve 2221 is movable to shut off communication between conduits 2196e and 2196g. Block 2196 has a passage 2196]' extending from the bottom of chamber 2196111 fto a small chamber 2196/: from which a conduit 2196111 extends to the Ready Service Ring drive. A manually operable valve 2222 is adapted to close communication between conduits 2196i and 2196111. Block 2196 has a chamber 219611 therein in which is movable a valve 2224 moved to the position shown by a coiled compression spring 2225 engaging said valve and disposed in the lower portion of chamber 219611, as seen in FIG. 3. A passage 21960 extends from chamber 2196111 to chamber 219611. A passage 219611 extends from cham- 'ber 219611 to the upper portion of chamber 219611. Valve 2224 has a rod extending above the top of block 2196 and is disposed to engage one end of a lever 2226 fulcrumed on a lug supported at the top of block 2196. Lever 2226 is pivotally connected at its other end to a link 2227, which link is in turn connected to the core of a solenoid SX1. Solenoid SX1 is a push solenoid and when energized yone end of lever 2226 is disposed to engage and operate a switch IX101A. A conduit 219611 extends from conduit 2184111 to chamber 219611. Conduit 2196c is connected by spaced passages 219661 to spaced points in chamber 219611. Block 2196 has a boss projecting therefrom concentric with chamber 219611, the end of the same being threaded to receive a cap 2228 which covers the outer end of screw 2214. Screw 2214 is `formed at its outer end to receive a tool for turning the same.

A conduit 218011 extends from the transfer mechanism to tank 2180. A conduit 2180b extends from the hoist pawl positioning piston mechanism to tank 2180 and a conduit 21800 extends :from the Inter-Transfer Mechanism valve block to tank 2180. A conduit 2230 extends from conduit 2174 to the Ready Service Ring Positioners. A branch 217411 extends from conduit 2174 to the Inter- Transfer Device valve block.

In operation, the air bladders 2161 are filled with nitrogen through valves 2165 and 2166 to the desired pressure. Pump 2181 will be driven from motor 2183 and a fluid, such as oil, under pressure will be delivered through conduit 2174, through lter 2178, past check valve 2176 and past check valves 2173 to accumulators 2160. This fluid or oil will compress the nitrogen in the 4bladders 2161. As the fluid or oil is pumped into the accumulators and the nitrogen is compressed, the pressure required to force the oil or uid into the accumulators becomes greater. While this pressure is low, valves 2186 and 2188 are held ito the left, as seen in FIG. 1, by spring 2187. This admits accumulator pressure to chamber 219811 at the spring end thereof from conduits 2184b, 2193b, 2184s, valve chamber 218411 and conduit 21841:. This pressure in chamber 219811 holds valve 2199 t-o the left and in lclosed position. Valve 2199 thus prevents the discharge from pump 2181 and through conduit 2174 from passing through conduit 219811 and hence past valve 2199, through conduits 2184114, 2184111 and 218411 to tank.

As the pressure rises in the accumulators it becomes effective in chamber 218411 at the adjacent ends of valves 2186 and 2188 and also in the chamber at `the left-hand end of valve 2188. There is thus accumulator pressure at each end of valve 2188 and said valve is balanced out. The pressure in said chamber at the adjacent ends of valves 2186 and 2188 is effective on valve 2186 and said valve is moved to the right until at 1500 pounds pressure per square inch the conduit 2184e is por-ted to conduit 218411. When this occurs, chamber 219811 at the right-hand end thereof is dumped to tank through conduit 2184s and conduit 218411. This causes valve 2199 to move to the right and the fluid from pump 2181 and conduit 2174 is then discharged into the tank through conduit 219811, chamber 2198111, conduit 2184114, conduit 2184111 and conduit 218411. Only enough pressure is needed to so discharge the Huid under pressure to tank as is necessary to compress spring 2200. The restricting orice 2184121 is provided to cushion both the opening and closing of valve 2199. The chamber 218411 at the adjacent ends of valves 2186 and 2188 is connected to the chamber between the lands of valve 2186 and thus `to conduit 2184e by the passage 218611 through valve 2186. This causes -said chamber at the adjacent ends of valve 2186 and 2188 to be ported to tank when conduit 218412 is ported to tank. Valve 2188 has a larger diameter and therefore a greater area than valve 2186 so that with accumulator pressure still effective in the chamber at the left-hand end of valve 2188 the area of valve 2188 becomes eiective against spring 2187. This increase in effective force causes valves 2188 and 2186 to jump slightly to the right when the chamber at the adjacent ends of said valve is dumped to tank as above described. The check valve 2176 prevents the fluid or oil in the accumulators from dumping to tank.

As the fluid -or oil from the accumulators is used up the pressure will drop. Valves 2186 and 2188 will be moved to the left by spring 2187. The pressure must drop to 1300 pounds per square inch before valve 2186 is moved to the left sufficiently to port conduit 2184s to conduit 2184s instead of conduit 2184d. When conduit 2184@ is ported to conduit 2184c, pressure is again admitted to chamber 2198a at the right-hand end thereof. This will close valve 2199 and cause conduit 2174 and the fluid under pressure to be again discharged .into the accumulators 2160. When pressure is admitted to the chamber at the adjacent ends of valves 2186 and 2188 there will be pressure on both ends of valve 2188 and said valve will thus be balanced. Pressure in said latter chamber however is effective upon valve 2186. This results in a drop in the effective forceon spring 2187 which'causes valves 2186'and 2188 toY jump slightly to the left. When the pressure in the accumulators again rises to 1500 pounds per square inch the discharge from pump 2181 through conduit 2174 will be again by-passed or directed to tank as above described.

All of the fiuid, such as oil, pumped through conduit 2174 passes through filter 2178. If the pressure required to force the oil through said filter exceeds 50 pounds per square inch, valve 2207 which is a filter bypass valve, will be forced to the right against the pressure of spring 2208. This movement of valve 2207 will swing lever 2210 and swing the same against the switch of the filter indicating light 2211. Said light will indicate that the filter element needs changing. If the pressure required to force the oil through filter 2178 rises any higher, valve 2207 will move sufficiently to open and this will allow the oil to by-pass the filter through conduit 220611, chamber 2206a and conduit 2206b. This by-pass provision is provided so that rupture of the filter element will be prevented.

When the structure is first assembled or is reassembled after having been taken apart, some difficulty may be experienced in starting. If conduit 2184e or conduit 2184c contains air when the pump is started, the pressure generated in conduit 2198b to force oil through filter 2178 is sufficient to open valve 2199, which as described will by-pass the fluid in conduit 2174 to tank. This is possible because the air in conduit 2184 or conduit 2184c compresses. If conduits 2184e and conduit 2784c were filled with oil the discharge from the right-hand end of chamber 2198a would be blocked by valve 2194 even though the conduits beyond said valve contained air. If this difficulty is experienced, cap 2101 can be removed and valve 2202 moved to the left manually. This will admit pressure from c-onduit 2198h to pass around valve 2199, through passage 2198d and through slots 2203a and through passage 2198c to the right-hand end of charnber 2198a, which pressure will move valve 2199 to closed position. Fluid or oil will then immediately begin to fiow into the accumulators 2160 causing a rise of pressure in conduits 2184e and 2184c and the structure will begin to function normally, Once the device is functioning normally to pump iiuid into the accumulators 2160, conduits 2184@ and 218% will automatically be purged of air and the moving of valve 2202 need not be repeated unless the structure is again disassembled.

The manual unloading valve 2191 is used if it is desired to empty the accumulators to tank manually.

The main pressure cutoff valve 2218 is used in standby to cut off accumulator pressure from the Ready Service Ring drive, the Transfer Mechanism Drive and the Hoist Pawl Positioning Piston. The leakage in these mecha nisms is thus eliminated and the amount of oil needed from the accumulators is lessened. With solenoid SX1 deenergized, as shown in the drawing, pressure is admitted to the top of valve 2218 through conduits 2196, through chamber 2196d1 and passage 21960, chamber 219671 and passage 2196p, thus holding said valve closed. When solenoid SX1 is energized, valve 2224 is moved downwardly, as seen in FIG. 3, and the chamber at the top of valve 2218 is ported to tank which allows valve 2218 to open. Said porting to tank occurs through passage 2196p, chamber 21961;, conduits 2184d2, 2184d1 and conduit 2184d to tank. Fluid under pressure at conduits 2196111, 2196g, 2196/1 and 2196i is referred to as PaX. Fluid under pressure in conduit 2174 is referred to as PaY. If PaX is cut off at valve 2218, PaY would still be supplied to the Ready Service Ring Positioners and the latter would be retracted when a cycle of the Ready Service Ring is initiated.

What is claimed is:

1. A missle-handling device having in combination, a plurality of missile moving means including a ready service ring drive, a transfer mechanism drive and a hoist Ypawl positioning piston, nan Vaccumulator for supplying fluid under pressure to each of said plurality of missile moving means, a conduit connected to said accumulator, a second means for supplying fiuid through said conduit to said accumulator, a valve chamber connected to said conduit, a valve movable in said chamber, a spring permitting movement of said valve at a certain pressure, a second valve chamber; `a valve movable in said second chamber, a second conduit connecting one end of said second chamber to said first mentioned conduit, a third conduit connecting the other end of said second chamber to said first mentioned chamber and thus to said first mentioned conduit, a spring on said other end of said second chamber holding said second valve closed, a fourth conduit connecting said second chamber to tank, a fifth conduit connecting said first mentioned chamber to tank normally closed by said first mentioned valve, whereby movement of said first mentioned valve upon attainment olf a certain pressure will connect said third con duit and fifth conduit thus porting said other end of said second chamber to tank, opening said second valve and porting said first mentioned conduit to tank through said second conduit, said second chamber and fourth conduit, and means for preventing fluid from draining from said accumulator through said first mentioned conduit.

2. A missile handling device having a combination, a plurality of missile-moving means including a ready service ring drive, a transfer mechanism drive and a hoist pawl positioning piston, hydraulically energized means for operating each of said plurality of means by fiuid under pressure, a conduit for supplying said fiuid under pressure to each of said plurality of missile moving means, a valve movable to closed position for cutting off the supply of fluid by said conduit, means for supplying fiuid under pressure from said conduit to one side of said valve to hold the same closed, a second valve, a solenoid f-or moving said second valve for connecting said side of said valve to tank, and means for then moving said valve to open position for suppling fiuid under pressure to said first mentioned means.

3. In combination with a missile handling device of a character incorporating a plurality of missile moving means operated by fluid under pressure wherein said means comprises a ready service ring drive, a transfer mechanism drive and a hoist pawl positioning piston; an accumulator system for supplying fiuid under pressure to each of said plurality of missile moving means, said accumulator system comprising, a supply conduit connected to charge the accumulator of said accumulator system, a pump means for supplying fluid through said supply conduit to said accumulator, a first valve chamber, a first spring-biased valve movable in said first chamber, a second conduit connecting said first chamber to said supply conduit, a second valve chamber, a second springbiased valve movable in said second chamber, a third conduit connecting said first and second valve chambers, a fourth conduit connecting said first chamber to a tank, the spring-biasing force of said second spring-biased valve together with the fiuid under pressure from said firstd mentioned chamber normally functioning to hold said second valve closed, a fifth conduit providing a ow passage from said rst conduit to the tank via said second chamber, said fth conduit normally being interrupted by the closure of said second valve, said accumulator system being further characterized in that when the iuidV in said first chamber lreaches a predetermined pressure said first spring-biased valve is actuated for connecting said third conduit to said forth conduit, and eiecting the opening of said second valve and the porting of said rst conduit to the tank through said fth conduit. 

1. A MISSILE-HANDLING DEVICE HAVING IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF MISSILE MOVING MEANS INCLUDING A READY SERVICE RING DRICE, A TRANSFER MECHANISM DRIVE AND A HOIST PAWL POSITIONING PISTON, AN ACCUMULATOR FOR SUPPLYING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF MISSILE MOVING MEANS, A CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID ACCUMULATOR, A SECOND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING FLUID THROUGH SAID CONDUIT TO SAID ACCUNULATOR, A VALVE CHAMBER CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT, A VALVE MOVABLE IN SAID CHAMBER, A SPRING PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE AT A CERTAIN PRESSURE, A SECOND VALVE CHAMBER; A VALVE MOVABLE IN SAID SECOND CHAMBER, A SECOND CONDUIT CONNECTING ONE END OF SAID SECOND CHAMBER TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED CONDUIT, THIRD CONDUIT CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND CHAMBER TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED CHAMBER AND THUS TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED CONDUIT, A SPRING ON SAID OTHER END OF SAID SECOND CHAMBER HOLDING SAID SECOND VALVE CLOSED, A FOURTH CONDUIT CONNECTING SAID SECOND CHAMBER TO TANK, A FIFTH CONDUIT CONNECTING SAID FIRST MENTIONED CHAMBER TO TANK NORMALLY CLOSED BY SAID FIRST MENTIONED VALVE, WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST MENTIONED VALVE UPON ATTAINMENT OF A CERTAIN PRESSURE WILL CONNECT SAID THIRD CONDUIT AND FIFTH CONDUIT THUS PORTING SAID OTHER END OF SAI SECOND CHAMBER TO TANK, OPENING SAID SECOND VALVE AND PORTING SAID FIRST MENTIONED CONDUIT TO TANK THROUGH SAID SECOND CONDUIT, SAID SECOND CHAMBER AND FOURTH CONDUIT, AND MEANS FOR PREVENTING FLUID FROM DRAINING FROM SAID ACCUMULATOR THROUGH SAID FIRST MENTIONED CONDUIT. 